The 1987 Topps baseball card set is considered one of the more valuable modern issues from the Topps brand. While not the flashiest or most known set from the late 80s, the ’87 Topps cards maintain solid collector demand and values due to several key factors that make it a mainstay in vintage card collections.
Released in the spring of 1987 as the primary baseball card issue of that year, the 1987 Topps set contains 792 total cards featuring players, managers, and stadium photos from both the American and National Leagues. The design is fairly basic compared to some other 1980s Topps issues, featuring a solid color background with players photographed mainly in action shots against plain textured surfaces. Still, the photography and card stock quality was on par for Topps at the time.
Rookies and star players in the 1987 set that drive much of its collector interest and value include Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, Mark McGwire, and Frank Thomas in their rookie seasons. Other noteworthy rookies like Jeff Bagwell, Tom Glavine, and Kenny Lofton also debuted in the set. Key veterans like Don Mattingly, Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, and Nolan Ryan continued to produce for collector demand as well.
While print runs for 1980s sports cards were massive by today’s standards, the 1987 Topps set had fewer issues than some preceding years that caused card saturation problems. Estimates place the 1987 Topps print run around 570 million total cards. For comparison, the 1986 Topps baseball set is thought to have been printed over 800 million times, contributing to lower card values today. The slightly smaller run has kept 1987 Topps cards more scarce and attractive to collectors.
Another factor propping up 1987 Topps values involves the timing of the set’s release during the early boom years of sports collecting. Interest and prices for vintage cards started escalating sharply in the late 1980s, meaning 1987 Topps cards were among the first modern issues to take off in secondary market value after only a few years. This “vintage” cachet still applies to the set today among collectors and investors.
Gem mint condition rookies and stars from 1987 Topps can demand thousands of dollars today. A PSA 10 graded Frank Thomas rookie fetches well over $1,000. A PSA 10 Barry Larkin rookie exceeded $800 in recent sales. Even base cards of superstars like Mike Schmidt, Roger Clemens, and Dwight Gooden can attain prices up to $100 in top condition.
More attainable for most collectors and investors are very fine to near mint graded 1987 Topps cards. Common veterans and role players in PSA 8 or BGS 9 condition often sell in the $5-15 range. Star rookies and veterans in the same grades usually bring $25-100, with the occasional lot exceeding $200 for a premier player. Raw near mint cards trade hands from $1-10 depending on the name on the card.
While not as iconic or collectible as flagship 1980s sets like 1984 or 1988 Topps, the 1987 issue maintains enduring popularity due to hallmark rookies, solid photography and design, smaller print run, and impeccable timing early in the boom period. Given the sustained collector demand and growth of the vintage card market over the past 30+ years, 1987 Topps values and collectibility should remain bright long into the future for this underrated modern classic baseball card set.
The combination of high-quality rookie cards, star veterans, and the cultural period during which it was released have made the 1987 Topps set very valuable for both casual collectors and serious card investors. While single card prices fluctuate based on condition and player, the overall set provides a solid vintage investment opportunity at attainable cost compared to earlier 1950s/1960s sets. Even common players hold value thanks to the relatively low print run. So whether pursuing individual hits or building a complete set on a budget, 1987 Topps cards deliver enjoyable collecting and respectable long-term returns.
